If you ask Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Daniel Jones, tight end Tyler Warren looks even better this year compared to last, which is saying a lot, considering how productive his rookie season was. Warren finished 2025 as one of the more productive tight ends in football, catching 76 passes for 817 yards with four touchdowns. He was named a Pro Bowler as well. Now in Year 2, Jones acknowledged that there aren't any major differences in Warren's game, but the stuff that he already did well as a rookie, he's been able to improve upon. Oftentimes, the experience that a player gained in Year 1 can be the catalyst behind a big jump in Year 2. Early on, that seems to be the case for Warren.
"I wouldn't say there's huge differences," Jones said while appearing on the Pat McAfee Show. "I think he's just a guy who gets better when he has a rep or has a certain play or he gets a certain look, he's someone who remembers it and does it from here on out and does it differently and learns from it and makes progress. He's built up a number of reps and just a really smart football player. Knows where the space is, knows how to use leverage and get open. I mean, he's huge, for one, he makes contested catches, all that stuff. It's a lot of the stuff he did last year, I'd say he's doing it even better so far this year."
"Tyler Warren is a really smart football player and he knows how to get open.. Everything that he did well last year he's doing even better this year" ~ @Daniel_Jones10#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/GD0P5OWxQM — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 17, 2026 Warren, along with Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, will play key roles in shouldering the added workload that comes with Michael Pittman in Pittsburgh. However, that doesn't only mean more potential targets, but also how Warren is utilized within the passing game. A focus for Warren this offseason was on improving his ability to maintain space within his routes to better hold separation from the coverage defender. Beyond Warren's production in the passing game, the well-rounded skill set he brings to the offense with his versatility and ability as a blocker further opens up the playbook for Shane Steichen and adds a level of unpredictability to the offense with all the different hats he can wear. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts Daniel Jones details how Tyler Warren is 'even better' in Year 2